Comments on: Pain Ray’s Burning Questions

By: stephen russell

stephen russell — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 04:28:02 +0000

Use this on US Mexican border & next major riot.
Or use in Prison riots.
Good TrialRun Test.
We need some system like this anyplace.
Give it a longer range:800 yards.

By: Dr. Curiosity

Dr. Curiosity — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 22:45:30 +0000

I find myself wondering how well it would work in a “pulsed” mode, like the shock from an electric fence. That might be enough of a warning to get people to move out of an area while lessening the overall intensity of the pain they feel.
Of course, this does to some extent rely on the how quickly the pain sensation cycles through the nervous system. They might have to tweak the frequency and pulse width to find an effective level.

By: Phoenix Insurgent

Phoenix Insurgent — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 22:11:16 +0000

Great blog, by the way. I check it almost every day.
As for this new technology, I want to point out that we should not forget the political context in which it has been developed and will be deployed: namely, global capitalism and the attempt by a small elite to dominate the planet and its peoples. So, it should be said that increased power and flexibility in the arsenals of the police and military ought to be opposed because it increases the ability of the ruling class to project its power and, therefore, to achieve its goals. Focusing on the alleged reduced lethality of the weapon obscures the goals of the class that developed it.
This technology is woefully in need of broader debate than the mainstream media is capable of providing. So, at the risk of awkwardly pimping my own work, I suggest this piece I wrote on the technology at my own blog.
All seriousness aside for a moment, I live in Phoenix and I have to wonder if this weapon will have any effect at all in the summer (other than perhaps causing a refreshing breeze)…
The army’s non-lethal imperialism
http://phoenixinsurgent.blogspot.com/2007/01/armys-non-lethal-imperialism-coming.html

By: David Hambling

David Hambling — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 20:17:59 +0000

I couldn’t make it to Georgia on short notice, so I missed the event. In any case, I am a little cynical about staged events. (I guess we have all seen products which worked wonderfully in the demonstation, but when you try them yourself…)
I have no doubt that the ADS will be completely safe when used as directed in the sort of scenarios it is designed for.
The big question is what happens when it is used in a real environment without the controls and calm state of mind that prevail in a demonstration. It will probably be safe and effective — the USAF are not idiots and they have spent a lot of time, money and effort ensuring that it is. What the sceptics like Dr Altmann would like to see is independent testing and a relase of more technical information than the Air Force is likely to provide.
So until then, it will be like the Castells case: (alleged) victim’s word against (alleged) perpetrator.

By: Nicholas Weaver

Nicholas Weaver — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 16:12:02 +0000

Actually, one other possibility for your TV idea:
Try to get the Mythbusters to play with it. Imagine them trying to fry pigs, zapping each other, etc etc etc etc etc.

By: Nicholas Weaver

Nicholas Weaver — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 16:10:20 +0000

Two questions:
Did you get a chance to feel it during the recent demo day?
Any luck on trying to get it as a reality show? I’m thinking the Jackass crew would make great targets. Or perhaps as part of the Surreal Life games or something like that (nothing like nuking a D-list celebrity for humor value).